Type of Organization

Fire/Rescue Department - Volunteer

Job Function

Firefighter / EMT-Basic

Years in Fire/EMS:

10

Primary Fire/EMS Department:

Scott Valley Fire Protection District

Years With Department/Agency

10

Other Past or Current Departments and Organizations

Etna Ambulance

My Training:

EMT-1, HazMat FRO, First Responder Operations Decon, ICS 100 & 200, Basic 32, (Wildland Essentials,) Pump Operations, Engine Boss, Fire Control 3 Structural Fire Fighting, NIMS/SEMS Basic, Basic Firefighting S-130, Volunteer Firefighter (FTSC 52,) Volunteer Firefighter (FTSC 53,) Volunteer Firefighter (FTSC 54,) Fire Behavior S-190, Firefighting Training (Fire 66,) Helicopter/LZ Safety Training, Wildland Safety Training, Driver Operator, Intro to Wildland Fire Behavior, plus a million & six refresher courses! lol. Being a volunteer has always been complicated.

About Me:

My family is originally from the San Francisco Bay Area. (East Bay, actually.) My husband & I relocated to extreme northern California 15 years ago, with our 3 kids. For the most part, we enjoy a slower pace of life. (Not so much the 24 miles round trip we have to drive just to get to the nearest grocery store! Lol.) But we also enjoy getting out once in a while, because sometimes we miss those city lights. The kids are mostly grown now, & my house is usually calm & quiet. Until the pager goes off, of course, or someone comes knocking at our door with a medical emergency, or to report a fire. In a small town, everyone knows where to get you. And my husband & I are both volunteers with our local, all volunteer dept...

Relationship Status:

Married

Facebook or Other Online Profile:

http://www.facebook.com/?ref=home#!/kathylanette

Why I Joined Fire/EMS

We live in a very rural mountain community. Our Captain went door to door recruiting. He got my husband first, then I got the bug. Together, we made a crew of three. In those days, we were the only ones attached to our station. (My dept. has 7 stations. Except for the main station, all the rest are officially classified as 'equipment sheds'. We are fairly remote.)

Why I Love Fire/EMS

God knows I keep asking myself that. Lol. On good days I actually feel like I'm helping.

Top Issues Facing Responders:

In rural northern CA, we have many obstacles. A biggie is recruiting & retaining volunteers, since, north of Redding, most of our depts. are all volunteer organizations. Budgets & fund-raising, because for the most part, our organizations have never been properly funded. Lack of street lights, houses with no house numbers, & unmarked, unpaved roads can make finding addresses for medical calls challenging, especially in the middle of a dark & moonless night.